Strings

Rob Bishop teaches violin and viola at Bedford Modern School and is the music coordinator for the Junior School. He was Head of Strings at Dean Close School in Cheltenham for seven years and is a National Youth Orchestra Open Days tutor. He played with the Halle Orchestra from 1988 to 1992 and the BBC Symphony Orchestra from 1992 to 2003 – the last five years of which he was sub-leader. He has played in shows in the West End including Les Misérables and the Wizard of Oz and was most recently co-leader with the National Symphony Orchestra.

Simon Davies is a visiting guitar teacher at Bedford Modern School. He studied at the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music before receiving his Honours Degree at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester. Performing in The Arada Guitar Duo, their 2008 release for Landor Records, ‘Mediterranean’ received glowing reviews from publications such as International Record Review and Gramophone magazine. The duo performed on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM and in some of the country’s finest chamber music venues. Performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company ‘band’, Simon has appeared in the West End runs of Romeo and Juliet, Don Quixote, and the critically acclaimed Venus and Adonis. As a soloist, Simon has represented the UK in the European Young Musicians’ Concert, performed at the London International Guitar Festival and has played for the King of Norway and the Spanish Prime Minister. He is a featured classical artist for Cunard and Fred Olsen cruise ships. Simon examines internationally for Trinity grade and diploma exams and is an examiner for International Baccalaureate music performance.

Simon has nearly 30 years teaching experience ranging from Harrow and Hertfordshire Music Services to Bedford School and has been Visiting Music Teacher at Haberdashers’ Girls’ School for 20 years.

Kevin Deverick is a registered tutor with the RGT (Registry of Guitar Tutors), specialising in electric, acoustic and bass guitar. He graduated from the Brighton Institute of Modern Music in 2007 with a strong desire to continue in the Music industry.

Kevin has toured and performed professionally across Europe and the US in various projects and has more than 18 years of teaching experience across all ages. Alongside teaching, he has several side projects which include songwriting, performing at corporate events and weddings, and running Bedford Rock School.

Dedicating time to raising the standards of all his students, Kevin Deverick takes an individual approach to his guitar lessons, ensuring all students enjoy playing whilst gaining a firm understanding of the key elements in guitar technique and music theory.

Melissa Favell-Wright, a double bass teacher at BMS, completed a music degree at Colchester Institute and a postgraduate diploma in advanced performance at the Royal College of Music. After graduating, Melissa taught in London for many years before moving to Bedford with her family in 2014. She combines her busy freelance performing career with teaching in the local area. Melissa regularly performs with the Royal Opera House Orchestra, English National Ballet, City of London Sinfonia, Britten Sinfonia, London Concert Orchestra, Royal Ballet Sinfonia and the BBC Symphony and Concert Orchestras. Melissa has performed and recorded with Andrea Bocelli, Katherine Jenkins, Barry Manilow, Neil Sedaka, Chrissie Hynde, Jack Savoretti and Procol Harum in venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Coliseum and the London Palladium. Melissa is often recording at Abbey Road and Air studios for Isobel Griffiths Ltd, Chamber Orchestra of London and London Contemporary Orchestra. She has played on numerous TV and film soundtracks such as Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Dumbo, Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, The Marvels, Mission Impossible, Deadpool vs Wolverine and Dunkirk. Melissa also teaches at Bedford Girls’ School and Bedford School.

Alison Judge started her freelance career as a violinist after graduating from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She often performed with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and other professional ensembles. In addition to becoming the upper strings tutor for the South Glamorgan youth orchestra, she started teaching at Howells Girls School and New College Cardiff. Alison Judge began teaching strings at BMS 23 years ago after relocating to Bedfordshire to raise a family following her move to London to play in the West End production of West Side Story. She has continued to combine her teaching career with freelance chamber and orchestral work.

Kate Leigh began studying the cello and piano at the age of seven, and at the age of ten received a scholarship to study both instruments at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Junior Department, where she was awarded the String Prize in her final year. She went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music under Paul Watkins and Josephine Knight and graduated in 2004 with a first class honours degree.

Kate has enjoyed a varied career as a session, chamber and orchestral musician, performing in many prestigious venues including The Royal Albert Hall, Purcell Room, Royal Festival Hall, National Theatre, Kings Place, Wembley Arena and the London Coliseum. She loves jazz and pop music and has performed on the Parkinson Show, Top of the Pops and the X Factor, and has toured with Sir Elton John. She also works as a session musician and has performed on film soundtracks and commercial recordings.

Kate has previously been a tutor on the Bedfordshire Youth Orchestra, Youth Second Orchestra and Chamber music courses. As well as her work at Bedford Modern School, she also currently teaches for the Bedfordshire Music co-operative, and is the cello coach at the Centre for Young Musicians (CYM) in London.

Max Milligan has been a professional guitarist since 1973, during which time he has played many styles of music working in Cabaret Clubs, West End Musicals, Jazz Funk/Soul bands and Rock and Roll tours. He has played guitar for 60’s music legends Billy J Kramer, Gerry Marsden, Matt Munroe, Frankie Vaughan, Bert Weedon and The Foundations to name a few.He is an experienced session guitarist and clinician. Max started teaching at the ‘The Guitar Institute’ London in 1991 where he taught future members of groups such as Radiohead, Reef, Sophie Ellis Bexter band and Go West. He has been teaching at BMS since 1999. Max is also a senior examiner for The London College of Music.
Max is always busy composing incidental music for TV and film companies and songwriting.

Discover more: Max Milligan

As a chamber musician, violist Jordan Sian has performed across Europe in concert halls including the Wigmore Hall, Southbank Centre, Cadogan Hall and Kammermusiksall of the Berlin Philharmonie. He has been a prize winner in international competitions and has performed as a soloist at King’s Place, London and St Paul’s Cathedral. Jordan has appeared on numerous chamber music broadcasts including live performances on Danish National Radio, BBC Radio and Radio Télévision Suisse. He is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and completed his studies in Switzerland where he was awarded an MA in Viola Pedagogy. Jordan teaches viola at Eton College and has recently been appointed to the faculty of Royal Holloway University and the Junior Department at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.Jordan was the violist for the UK tours of Phantom of the Opera (2020) and Les Misérables (2021-2023). He has recorded and performed with several artists including Jess Glynne, Ellie Goulding, One Direction, Chaka Kahn, Bastille and Adele.